Laura Mitchell
Laura found her way into music through the folk sessions of Edinburgh's Old Town, where she learned that a song can hold a room without a single amplifier. A festival city upbringing gave her a taste for everything from fiddle tunes to fringe experiments. She writes about acoustic instruments, folk and the craft of songwriting.
Articles by Laura Mitchell
Mackie Studio Monitors for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Mackie studio monitors are perfect for beginners—but placement and sizing matter. Here's exactly what you need to know to get professional sound from your first setup.
Soprano Ukulele: A Complete Guide
The smallest and most traditional of the ukulele family, the soprano has a bright, quick voice and a history rooted in Hawaiian music. Here is everything you need to know.
The Complete Guide to Chorus Effect Pedal
The chorus effect creates a lush, shimmering texture by layering a slightly delayed, pitch-modulated copy of your signal. This comprehensive guide covers controls, placement, and techniques for captur...
The Complete Guide to Nylon String Acoustic Guitar
Nylon string acoustic guitars deliver warm, rich tone and gentle playability preferred by classical and fingerstyle musicians. These instruments offer expressive capability unavailable on steel-string...
The Complete Guide to Keyboard Piano Cover
Discover keyboard piano cover types, how to choose the right fit and why protection matters. Essential guide for keyboard and digital piano owners.
Bass Jaguar Fender: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The Fender Bass Jaguar combines distinctive offset aesthetics with short-scale playability and tonal character. This buying guide explains what matters when selecting a Bass Jaguar, addresses comfort...
Saxophone Case: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a saxophone case requires understanding protection levels, material durability, and which specs genuinely matter. This guide covers hard vs. soft cases, price tiers, and where buyers go wrong.
Overhead Microphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
An overhead microphone captures your drums or acoustic instruments from above, picking up cymbals, detail, and space. This guide explains how to position one, what type to use, and how to get good res...
Concertina Explained: Features, Types and Tips
From Victorian parlours to Irish session rooms, the concertina has carried centuries of musical expression. Learn how this hexagonal instrument works and why it remains central to folk tradition.
Common Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems come down to a handful of correctable habits. Identifying them early makes everything else faster.
Portable Audio Interface: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Selecting the right portable audio interface means balancing specifications, real-world performance, and honest self-assessment of your recording needs. This guide walks you through what matters and w...
Rackmount Audio Mixer for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Stepping into rackmount audio mixers as a beginner feels intimidating, but modern mixers are logical instruments designed by people solving real problems.
Pink Electric Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A pink electric guitar is a great choice if you love the colour. This beginner's guide addresses worries about standing out and helps you find a quality pink guitar that plays beautifully.
Distortion Pedals For Bass: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Selecting the right distortion pedals for bass requires understanding bass-specific design considerations. This guide explains overdrive, distortion, and fuzz options, essential features, and how to i...
The Complete Guide to Drum Kit Amplifier
A drum kit amplifier transforms your acoustic drums into a focused, punchy sound that sits perfectly in any mix—whether on stage, in rehearsal, or in the studio.
Pedalboard Bass for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A bass pedalboard organises your effects and makes your setup portable and professional. This beginner's guide removes the confusion and helps you build your first effects rig with confidence.
Case Headphone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Case headphones transform silent guitar practise by letting you hear yourself clearly without disturbing others. This beginner's guide covers setup, headphone selection, and practise techniques.
The Complete Guide to Mixer Dj Pioneer
Pioneer mixers are industry standard equipment trusted by professional DJs worldwide. This guide covers their product range, key features, and how to choose the right mixer for your skill level.
Taylor Nylon String Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Taylor nylon string guitars offer quality and consistency across multiple price points. This comprehensive guide helps you evaluate Taylor models and select one matching your playing style and budget.
Tape Recorders in Music: Reel-to-Reel and Cassette Explained
A faint breath of hiss, half a second of room, a machine being persuaded into motion. For a long time that sound was simply what recorded music was made of.
Behringer Drum Machine: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Behringer drum machines offer genuine creative tools at budget-friendly prices. This buying guide walks you through key specifications, quality assessment, common pitfalls, and realistic pricing.
The Complete Guide to Digital Grand Piano
Modern digital pianos capture the authentic performance experience of concert instruments whilst offering practical advantages that acoustic versions cannot match. Discover technology and features tha...
Music Transcription Software: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Transcription software accuracy varies wildly depending on instrument type and audio quality. This buying guide covers key specs, price tiers, common pitfalls, and how to choose the right tool for you...
What Laura Mitchell covers
Accordion
The accordion is a versatile folk instrument with rich tone, expressive bellows and many layouts for traditional and mod...
2 topics
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are powerful traditional instruments with strong regional identities, used across Scottish, Irish and wider fol...
Didgeridoo
Resonant Australian drone instrument with powerful sustained tone, circular breathing and distinctive rhythmic effects.
1 topic
Harmonica
Harmonicas are compact, expressive instruments ideal for folk, blues and acoustic performance.
Kalimba
Kalimba instruments are compact thumb pianos with a soft, melodic tone, ideal for beginners and atmospheric playing.
2 topics
Mandolin
Mandolin instruments deliver a bright, ringing tone with strong folk and acoustic appeal across many styles.
2 topics
Ocarina
Compact vessel flute with a clear, haunting tone and simple, portable appeal.
Ukulele
Popular portable instrument with a bright sound and several sizes for folk and acoustic playing.
14 topicsPopular topics
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Index- Guitars 1,525
- Pianos & Keyboards 491
- Drums & Percussion 278
- Orchestral Strings 76
- Wind & Woodwind 97
- Brass Instruments 70
- Folk & World Instruments 108
- Studio Recording 484
- Music Software & DAWs 250
- DJ & Electronic Production 199
- Live Sound & PA 143
- Music Accessories 165
- Sheet Music & Learning 63
- Music Genres 285
- Music News & Industry 246
- Hi-Fi & Home Audio 64
- Artists & Bands 39